Guinness Special Export Stout / Antwerpen Stout | Guinness Ltd.

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Notes / Commercial Description:
This 8% abv stout has long been a secret pleasure among beer connoisseurs and indeed our Brewers, who value the mouth watering intensity of its roasted malt, smoked wood and dark chocolate notes, not to mention it's excellent and seemingly endless finish. Since 1944 we have been exclusively exporting this same special stout from Ireland into Belgium through the vibrant port of Antwerp. This is the first time we're making it available for general release in America.

Poured from bottle in the shaker monster 3 finger tan head, great retention and lacing. Jet black in the glass. Smells of roasted malt and chocolate. Taste of roasted malt chocolate, express. Very full middle and finishes on the dry side like its little brother.

Poured from a 330cl bottle into a pint glass. The appearance is a dark mahogany brown color with a thick tan head. The aroma is very mild, mostly malt. The taste is malt goodness with a black licorice finish.

O - very nice exemplar of what to me has become the quasi-stout-archetype that I contrast all other stouts to. It has a lovely creaminess, it's so so smooth, it's more of a caffe latte than an espresso, it doesn't have much smokiness. Almost gentler than your stereotypical porter (which I personally prefer more), but very, very nice regardless.

Pours a black color with a very small head. Smells of roasted malts and chocolate. Tastes of bittersweet chocolate, coffee, and strong roasted malts. Medium mouthfeel with LGBT carbonation. Overall this is an absolutely delicious stout, probably my favorite by Guinness.

11.2oz bottle purchased somewhere in the greater Spokane area, most likely either Huckleberry's or one of the Total Wines. Can't remember what I paid for it. No obvious freshness date, just some sort of code on the rear label: L619OGF0003.

Poured into an Iron Goat snifter, this was lovely to look at. So dark brown as to be virtually black, with a big, creamy tan head that took it's time dropping and left lots of lace on the sides of the glass.

Initially the nose was of toasted dark malts, like one would expect from an Irish dry stout. As it warmed, an odd, sugary sweet aroma took over, eventually dominating the aroma entirely.

The flavor was an odd mix of traditional, dry stout flavors such as dark roasted, restrained coffeeish bitterness and a strange, somewhat off putting burnt sugary thing that reminded me of burnt marshmallows and candy. These did not meld together all that well. There's also a little bit of alcoholic heat. Finish is bitter, dry and slightly reminiscent of elderly noughat.

Many years ago I really would have loved a chance to try the Belgian Guinness. Haven't been a Guinness fanboy for a long time now, and this isn't doing much to bring me back. It's an overly sweet booze bomb that tastes like artificial sweet flavors were added with a heavy hand. It's not awful, but it's definitely not my thing.

Poured into an oversized wine glass, it appears pitch black. Holding up to the light, however, reveals its true very dark ruby hue at the edges of the three finger head. Rich dark malts on the nose, with hints of milk chocolate and dark fruits.

S) Nowhere near what you may expect from an 8% stout. This hasn't been cooled too much either. The main impression is the 'tannic' odour as from a red wine. Does not smell like beer and nothing like a stout.

T) Slight acidic aspect, as per a 'milk stout'. Hint of burnt malt, but not much. Mid-vanilla fudge sweetness comes in after the main drink. Very little bitterness from hops or roasted malt. Balanced for sure, but doesn't try to excel in any one department.

F) The best aspect of the beer; has a nice squidgy liquid marshmallow texture. Slight carbonation. No bitter aftertaste, which you cold take as a plus or minus.

O) I'm disappointed with it, but you have to look at it from Guinness' point of view - produce an 'imperial' stout that will appeal to a mass market. It is a nice easy drink, but doesn't commit to doing anything especially well in any one department.

Very dark brown-black with a huge tan head that really sticks around and clings to the glass. Lots of roasted malt, chocolate, malted candy like whoppers, and a little smokey. All of these notes in the flavor and so smooth. No hint of the alcohol, whatsoever. Average carbonation, medium body, and a little slick up front. Not overly dry on the finish, either. Just right. Very nice brew, here.

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation and moderate amounts of cola brown colored highlights. The beer has a three finger tall dense foamy creamy tan head that slowly reduces to a large patch of thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of roasted, chocolate, caramel, and bready malts with a light to moderate amount of dark fruit (plum + fig) + caramel sweetness. That is followed by light to moderate flavors of chocolate + molasses as well as some light to moderate amounts of earthy hop flavors. Light to moderate amounts of roasty bitterness in the finish which slowly fades away.

O: Glad I finally got the chance to have this beer since I started reviewing on BeerAdvocate - I had it years ago while traveling for business and have wanted the chance to try if again. Very enjoyable and easy to drink. Worth the wait. Alcohol is well hidden.